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Monthly Archives: May 2019

There is a lot to say about this city so here are the top 10 things to do and see in Budapest.

Hero Square

For the 10th attraction scroll down under SE Avenue into hero square. Visit the old and new art museums which flank the sides of the square and see why Budapest is often referred to as the Paris of the east.

Vasta Street

Scroll down the street of Vatsa and enjoy the lovely architecture towering over you. This street used to be where the rich and famous of Hungary went shopping but recently has been flooded with tourists. Shop at designer boutiques or if you prefer to have an espresso at a cafe and just people watch.

Hungarian Parliament

This impressive building is resting along the Danube and is a worthy example of European neo-gothic architecture. Opened in 1896, this huge building has 691 rooms and 20 kilometers of stairs. Make sure to see the crown jewels before you move on to your next attraction.

The Chain Bridge

This is the first permanent bridge to connect Buda and Pest and at the time of its construction was considered one of the wonders of the world. The original bridge was destroyed by the retreating Germans in 1945 and was reconstructed in 1949. It is guarded on either side by lion statues. The bridge will lead you to the castle hill funicular or to Clark Adams square. My tip is to make sure you see the bridge at night as the illuminated bridge is even more beautiful after dark.

Budapest Opera House

You can visit one of the most famous music houses in Europe – Budapest Opera House. It is considered being the third best acoustic opera in Europe. Take one of the tours that’s offered every day at 3:00 and 4:00 p.m. in several languages.

Shop and Eat at the Central Market Hall

This is a massive indoor market in the city’s heart. This is a great place to find fresh ingredients and famous Hungarian products like paprika. Ready-to-eat food is located on the market 2nd floor among other stalls selling clothing handcrafted chess boards and other souvenirs. If you fancy yourself a sausage aficionado, visit the market on a Friday or Saturday where you’ll celebrate international gastro day.

Budapest City Park

This park is not only the largest in the city but it was the first public park in the world. Here you will find trees, green grass, a lake, and a Transylvanian like castle. If you are visiting in the winter, the castles artificial moat is converted into a skating rink.

St. Stephen’s Cathedral

This is the largest Cathedral in Hungary and it is named after the first Hungarian King. You can still see his mummified hand next to the altar. The church is a nice example of neoclassical and Neill Renaissance architecture. Its 93 meters of height is the same as Parliament’s, representing the balance between church and state. You can pay the tiny fee to climb the tower and see a panoramic view of the city.

Turkish Baths

If you are feeling tired, then it’s time for the second attraction. Budapest is packed with classic Turkish baths that date back to the 16th century. These thermal baths are a great way to warm up and recharge your batteries. I recommend Gellert Baths and Art Nouveau style baths with both swimming pools spas and curly baths.

India is one of my favorite countries, you can travel the entire country and you will always see something a little different – beaches, desert, mountain ranges, canals, and waterways. It has a population of 1.2 billion people and there are two main languages that are spoken in India. The first one is Hindi and the secondary language is English. However, there are actually 21 different languages in India and so it is very possible that even when Indians traverse their own country they may come across language barriers and have difficulty understanding each other.

Planning Your Trip to India

Obviously, the country is big and traveling it can take some time. One of my biggest tips is to always pad your travel days. I usually like to pad at least a day or a day and a half for my travel time and that’s because it allows everything from the actual duration of my trip to the possibility that the train or bus might break down in the process or it might arrive late. Unless, you can hire a driver, rent a car, or hop on a tour it’s highly unlikely that you will be able to keep to very tight schedules.

Getting Around

Long distance transportation options will be flight, railway, government bus or long-distance bus, hire a driver, rent-a-car, as well as take a tour. In terms of airline carriers, the popular ones are India air, Kingfisher, Jet Airways, Indigo, and SpiceJet. The airline carriers in India are pretty good and their price range from $30 to $80. The most common transportation a lot of travelers use is the railway system, and it is because it is consistent and convenient.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aa_oncMhFOs

Communication

The internet situation in India is pretty good and their infrastructure isn’t so bad. The speeds are pretty quick and internet cafes in India are still very common. You will see many of them around and this is perfect for the tourist that doesn’t bring their laptop or a computer along with them. A lot of times, the computers there will be a little old-school, the internet might be a little slow, and you’ll pay per minute. They can also make copies there for anything you might need to print out your flights and stuff. If you want a quick speed, then the next option would be to get an Indian SIM with a data plan. Whenever I am in India, I always get an Indian SIM and that allows me to communicate and use the internet.

Health

This is important because people are always afraid of getting sick in India. India is known as a country that’s growing in medical tourism. You will always find doctors, pharmacies, as well as hospitals in big cities. They also are big in Ayurvedic medicine and they also practice arrogating medicine. Even though it’s all-natural, I wouldn’t underestimate the power of them because this is a practice that has gone on for hundreds of years.